From Rohit Sharma to Kieron Pollard: 4 players Mumbai Indians might retain before IPL 2022 mega auction

KEY STORY

• The IPL franchises are gearing up for the IPL 2022 mega auction and they still have a few weeks left before zeroing in on the key players they want to retain. While there are some automatic retentions, the franchises could also spring a surprise by releasing some big names.

• Mumbai Indians are one of the teams which might not have any surprises in store as there are some automatic retentions in their line-up. As the fans anxiously await a final word from the franchise, here we have a look at 4 players which MI might retain before IPL 2022 auction –

  Rohit Sharma

  No doubts here. Rohit Sharma is all but set to be MI’s first-choice pick before IPL 2022 auction. He has been the most successful skipper in the history of IPL and has led MI to 5 IPL titles. Even though Rohit hasn’t been able to deliver on the batting front, he has excelled on the captaincy front.

  Under him, MI ended their dry spell in IPL and clinched the trophy for the first time in 2013. They repeated their heroics in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. Although the team didn’t have a fruitful run in 2021, Rohit will continue to lead the side and looks set to be paid the mega sum of Rs 16 crore. He earned Rs 15 crore every year from 2018 to 2021.

  Kieron Pollard

  Since a franchise was only allowed to retain 3 players before the 2018 mega auction, MI couldn’t retain their vice-captain. They wasted no time in winning his services again at the auction and used their Right to Match card for Rs 5.4 crore – he was bought by Delhi Capitals. Since there will be no RTM card this time, MI probably wouldn’t want to let go of their star player back in the auction pool.

  Pollard has single-handedly won many matches for MI and is a part of the leadership group as well. He leads MI in Rohit’s absence and is an automatic selection in the playing XI even if he doesn’t perform well.

  Ishan Kishan

  A look at Ishan Kishan’s dry run in IPL 2021 and the fact that he was benched for 4 matches might force people to think that he would be released. But with an eye on the future, MI might continue to back the youngster. MI had to pay Kishan Rs 6.2 crore in IPL 2018 mega auction and the franchise probably sees him as the next Big Thing.

  Hence, they might back him and keep his services. Although he had played for Gujarat Lions, MI gave him regular backing, which saw him making his India debut in March 2021.

Jasprit Bumrah

Mumbai Indians gave Jasprit Bumrah the platform on which he capitalised before making it to the national squad. There is no way that MI would even give any franchise an opportunity to bid for him. Bumrah has been their biggest asset in the bowling department and is one of the senior members of the team now.

He is also a regular at the national level and leads Team India’s pace attack across all formats. Like Rohit, there is no doubt over his future with MI.